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Funding Line 1 | Interdisciplinary Research
Program Description
The "Interdisciplinary Research" funding line aims to enable outstanding researchers to work at the intersection of disciplines and develop innovative approaches to scientific questions. Collaborations with other disciplines or a partner institution from the European university alliance Transform4Europe (T4EU) are encouraged but not mandatory.
- Support and development of early-career researchers
- Promotion of innovative, interdisciplinary and excellent research projects
- Encouragement of interdisciplinary collaboration and establishment of new research approaches leading to collaborations and acquisition of third-party funding, particularly for interdisciplinary projects
- Strengthening of (T4EU) collaborations
Interdisciplinarity is understood in this call as follows:
- Collaborations:
Interdisciplinarity is considered to be present when at least two early-career researchers from different academic disciplines work together. The cooperation partners do not need to hold permanent positions (e.g., postdoctoral researchers are also eligible). Collaborations may also be conducted with researchers outside Saarland University (USAAR) and outside Germany. - Interdisciplinary Individual Projects:
Interdisciplinarity is not limited to collaborations; it can also be present within a single project. An individual project is considered interdisciplinary if the applicant integrates methods, approaches, or research questions from at least two different academic fields, and these are essential to achieving the project’s objectives.
- Individual projects up to €10,000
- Collaborative projects up to €15,000. The distribution of funds between the project partners may be agreed upon freely. However, the transfer of funds to external researchers is not permitted.
- For collaboration with a Transform4Europe partner, an additional €1,000 (lump-sum) can be requested
- Researchers at Saarland University with a completed PhD and an excellent degree, up to 5 years after PhD completion
- Junior professors are likewise eligible to apply; the decisive criterion is the date of the doctoral defense
Extended periods of absence are considered in accordance with DFG guidelines: DFG Equity and Diversity. The declaration of such absences is based on trust; individual supporting documents are not required.
- Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages), including top publications (max. 5)
- Project Proposal (max. 3 pages):
- Abstract (max. ½ page)
- Key objectives and methods
- Explanation of the innovative / excellent aspects for START
- Description of the involved disciplines and their interfaces
- Budget plan (table) (max. ½ page)
- Letter of recommendation from your superior (250-300 words). If the applicant holds a junior professorship, no letter of recommendation is required.
- If applicable, collaboration partners:
- For interdisciplinary collaborations: Evidence of involvement of at least one partner from another discipline
- For T4EU collaborations: Evidence of involvement of at least one T4EU partner
- For interdisciplinary individual projects: The interdisciplinary character of the work must be clearly demonstrated in the project description
- The evidence must be provided by the respective collaboration partner as an informal email
- Font: Arial
- Font size: Minimum 11
- Line spacing: Minimum 1.2
- Page margins: Top 2.5 cm | Bottom 2 cm | Left 2.5 cm | Right 2 cm
- The application may be submitted in either German or English
- Citation format: There are no formal requirements; hyperlinks/DOIs used as in‑text references are permitted
- Publications that are not available as open access do not need to be included in the application
The complete documents (one single PDF file) must be submitted exclusively via email to:
Only the provided templates may be used, and the specified style sheet must be followed. Save the document under the name: START_F1_Interdisciplinary Research_<Your last name>.
Any modification or alteration of the provided templates and/or any failure to comply with the prescribed style sheet may result in your application not being considered.
- Travel costs: Funding for active participation in conferences, archival work, or summer schools (max. two months, either continuously or in segments)
- Direct project costs: Usable for license/software fees, publication fees, literature, etc.
- Consumables
- Student / research assistants (“Wissenschaftliche Hilfskräfte”)
- For T4EU collaborations: Costs related to the cooperation
- Unspent funds will expire
According to the resolution of the Research Committee dated 12 February 2004, members of the Medical Faculty may submit funding applications to only one internal body (either HOMFOR or the Research Committee). This regulation applies equally to members of all faculties with regard to the START funding program. Identical or substantively similar applications may not be submitted simultaneously to HOMFOR, the Research Committee or the START funding program.